Splicer



G. J. PHELIPPI May 9, 1967 SPLICER Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-$heet 1 R O T N E V m G. J. PHBLJPPE May 9, 1967 SPLIGER 4 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed March 12.- 1964 & aw

mw QQ INVENTOR. 6204 J W '/4 02 BY /4 7 TOR'NEY May 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 12.. 1964 INVENTOR. 50227? (Z r y/4 m tin y 9, 1967 G. .1. PHiLIPP: 3,318,?54

SPLICER Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mazw A TTJH/VE Y United States Patent 3,318,754 SPLICER George J. Philippi, Plainfield, N.J., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,405 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-5--505) The present invention relates to film splicers, more particularly to film splicers utilizing a length of pressuresensitive adhesive tape to form the splice.

The present invention contemplates a splicer wherein a length of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is wrapped around the leading longitudinal edges of the film ends to be spliced in such a way that the tape is adhered to the top and the bottom of the film on both sides of the film ends. The tape is wrapped about the film in this manner by relative motion created between a jig for holding the film ends and an anvil and a wiper cooperatively associated with one another. The wiper is urged toward the anvil to wipe the tape into close contact with the film ends as the film passes between the wiper and the anvil. The ends of the tape are trimmed just beyond the trailing edges of the film ends by a knife aligned with the film and adapted to strike the anvil at this point. To assure complete and thorough wiping a portion of the wiper normally is located in the path of the knife at a point just outwardly of the trailing edge of the tape after translation of the jig and the anvil with respect to one another. Means associated with the knife and the wiper is provided for moving the wiper over the film and out of the path of the knife in the downward motion of the knife.

Preferably, the knife is urged away from the wiper and the wiper is urged toward its position adjacent the trailing edge of the film. It also is preferred that the knife and the wiper be operatively connected so that elevation of the knife returns the wiper to its first location.

In one embodiment the knife is mounted on a pivoted arm and a plate defining a cam slot is attached to the arm or to the wiper for cooperation with a cam follower attached to the other to provide the above-referred-to-operative connection for moving the wiper as the knife descends and ascends.

Other and further advantages of this invention will appear to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a film processing splicer according to one embodiment of this invention, partly broken away for convenience and showing the jig in its first position for insertion of the film therein;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation taken along the line 5 of FIG. 1 and showing the tape applicator lever in its forward position for applying tape to the film to be spliced;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged sectional view showing the application of the tape to the film;

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, similar to FIG. 2, and showing the jig in its second position over the anvil with the knife depressed to trim the tape along the trailing edge of the film;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the anvil, Wiper and knife structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a splice according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the pivoted arm bearing the cutting knife;

ice

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the wiper of this invention with attached cam plates;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in perspective of the outer end of the tape applicator lever illustrating the operation of the flipping arms thereof;

FIG. 10 is a similar view in perspective showing how the end of the tape is flipped onto the film to be spliced by the resilient flipping springs on the flipping arms.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a film processing splicer according to one embodiment of this invention which comprises a splicer base 21 for supporting the operating parts. The splicer base 21 comprises opposite side walls 22, a front end wall 23 connecting the side walls, and left and right horizontal top walls 24 extending inwardly from the side walls 22 to define an operating space, or central cavity 25 between them. A pair of opposed vertical supporting walls 26 extend upwardly from the horizontal walls 24 at the rear of the base to form an open chamber 27 between them in line with the cavity 25. The splicer base 21 is made up of four angle irons. The vertical legs of the two lowermost of these angle irons form the side walls 22, and the other two angle irons provide the vertical supporting walls 26 and horizontal flanges 28 integral therewith which are bolted to the horizontal legs of the lowermost angle irons to complete the horizontal walls 24. The front end wall 23 is in the form of a plate bolted to the side walls 22 through suitable brackets. The top surfaces of the horizontal walls, from the front end of the splicer to shoulders 29 presented by the flanges 28 at a point beyond the front end of the vertical supporting walls, act. as spaced slides 31 for translation of a film supporting jig 32 shown at the front end of the slides in FIG. 1, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The vertical supporting walls 26 are cut out to provide slots 33 which will allow the jig 32 to pass underneath the walls to reach the rear end of the slides 31, and wearing strips 34 of some soft material, such as brass, are screwed to the top surface of the slides 31 to facilitate proper positioning of the jigs with respect to the slides.

The film holding jig 32 is mounted on the slides 31 at the top of the casting for translation from a first posi tion at the front end of the slides, illustrated in FIG. 1, to a second position within the slots 33 defined by the vertical supporting walls 26 at the rear ends of the slides 31. The jig 32 comprises a supporting surface 44 for holding the two ends of film 45 to be spliced in approximate abutting relation with one another, a front rail 46 defining one longitudinal edge of the supporting surface 44, and corresponding rear rail portions 47 spaced from the front rail by the width of the film to be spliced and defining the opposite longitudinal edge of said surface. The supporting surface 44 is cut away along the longitudinal center line of the splicer and the rear rail sections 47 are spaced from one another to provide a centrally located recess which accommodates a fixed platform 48 at least as wide as the splicing tape. The platform 48 is presented by a table 49 mounted from the underside of the horizontal walls 24 of the base 21 on a transverse bar 51 bolted to the base and to the table 49. The plat-form 48 is at the same level as the supporting surfaces 44 of the jig and normally supports those portions of the film ends to be contacted by the splicing tape in the first position of the jig.

The platform 48, and the table 49, define a transverse slot 52 for receiving a retractable flag 53 for positioning trimmed film ends. The flag 53 is in the form of a thin rigid sheet mounted on a rod, not shown, recessed in the table 49 for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the supporting surface 44 and to the center line of the film. The flag 53 is urged downward so that its nor- :mal position is below the platform 48 in the recess. As indicated in FIG. 1, the flag is raised so that it protrudes above the level of the platform merely by pressing down on a lever 55 integral therewith which protrudes through an opening in the front wall 23 of the splicer. The flag islatched up in the position shown in FIG. 1 by conventional latching means, not shown, adapted to be actuated by the forward movement of a tape applying lever 62, which will be described more fully hereinafter, to allow the flag to drop to its recessed position.

Prior to placement of the trimmed film ends in the jig 32, the flag 53 is elevated by pressing down on the lever 55. Each film end then is placed in the track formed by the supporting surface 44 and the front and rear rails 46 and 47 with its end against the flag. After the film has been positioned in this manner, a corresponding pair of clamping pads 64 are depressed into engagement with detents 65 on each half of the jig which hold the pads 64 in clamping contact with the film to assure that the film will not be displaced from its proper position on the supporting surface. Each of the clamping pads 64 comprises a block 66 of resilient material which actually contacts the film 45 and a backing plate 67 to which the block is attached by glue or adhesive. The backing plate 67, in turn, is bolted or riveted to a supporting bracket 68 which is pivotally mounted on a clamping shaft 69 via a pair of flanges 71 extending from each end of the bracket. The clamping shaft 69, in turn, is mounted in vertical brackets 72 eXtending upwardly from the corresponding rear rail portion 47. The clamping pads 64 are located longitudinally of the film by hollow cylindrical spacers 73 placed around the clamping shafts between the vertical brackets 72 and the flanges 71 supporting the pads. The clamping pads are spring loaded upwardly to the position shown at the right of FIG. 1 by helical springs 74 connecting the flanges 71 to the brackets 72.

The detents 65 are spring loaded toward the pads 64 by return springs 75 attached to clips 76 supporting the detents. Each of the detents 65 presents an inclined top surface 77 for contacting the leading edge of the clamping pad as the pad is depressed so that downward motion of the pad deflects the detent and allows it to snap over a holding bar 78 welded to the top surface of the backing plate 67 of the pad and thereby hold the pad firmly in position. -When it is desired to release a pad 64, the top of the detent 65 merely is pulled forward with one finger and the pad snaps up to the position shown at the right of FIG. 2 under control of the return spring 74.

A supply roll 81 of pressure-sensitive adhesive splicin-g tape wound on a conventional core 82 of paper or other expendable material is mounted for rotation on front and rear supporting rollers 83 and 84. The supporting rollers, in turn, are fixed to corresponding shafts 85 and 86 which are freely rotatable in inwardly facing cylindrical openings, not shown, presented opposite one another in the opposed side walls 22 of the splicer base. A pair of axial locating flanges 87, partially shown, are presented at the ends of each of the supporting rollers 83 and 84 for positioning the tape roll laterally in the dispenser. When the roll 81 is positioned between the flanges 87 of the supporting rollers, its weight rests upon the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers 83 and 84 and the roll 81 is prevented from shifting sideways by the flanges 87. A length of tape 88 is drawn down under the front supporting roller 83 with the back of the tape in contact with the cylindrical surface of the roller. Then, under a guide bar 89 extending between side walls of the base and through the end of the below-described tape applicator lever 62.

The tape applicator lever 62 is in the form of a U- shaped arm with a cross bar 91 (the bottom of the U) at the outer end of the lever and two legs 92 connecting the lever to a mounting block 93 which, in turn, is fixed to a control shaft 94. The control shaft 94 is rotatably mounted in cylindrical openings or bushings oppositely located in the side walls 22 of the base and attached to a handle 95 which extends outwardly and is readily accessible for operating the tape applicator lever 62.

The tape 88 is drawn through a narrow space provided between the cross bar 91 and a pair of transverse springs 96 extending between the legs 92 of the lever. A leaf spring 97 bolted to the mounting block 93 extends between the cross springs to a point spaced from the cross bar. The adhesive side of the tape is adapted to contact the outer edge of the leaf spring 97 and at least one of the transverse springs 96 as it passes underneath the cross bar 91 of the lever. The leaf spring 97 is so inclined and arranged with respect to the passage of the tape through the lever that the .spring 97 will deflect slightly when the tape is drawn forward through the lever 62 and thereby allow motion of the tape in this direction, but will jam against the adhesive side of the tape if an attempt is made to draw the tape backwards through the lever 62. An additional cross bar 98 is provided between the legs 92 of the applicator lever to assure that the leaf spring 97 is not deflected too far forward to properly contact the tape. Since the tape 88 passes between the legs,92 of the applicator lever, the legs need only be spaced from one another by a distance great enough to accommodate the width of the tape without jamming.

A pair of corresponding flipping arms 101 are fixed to a transverse shaft 102 passing through the legs 92 of the applicator lever and pivotally mounted therein. The flipping arms 101 are secured to the shaft 102 in such a way that the corresponding arms 101 extend parallel and in fixed relation with respect to one another. A corresponding pair of tension springs 103 is attached between the inner ends of the flipping arms 101 and the mounting block 93 so that the inner ends of the flipping arms normally are drawn toward the mounting block and the flipping arms have a normal position approximately aligned with a plane connecting the control shaft 94 and the cross bar 91. When the flipping arms 101 are aligned substantially parallel with the legs 92 of the applicator lever the ends of the flipping arms extend beyond the cross bar of the lever, as shown best in FIG. 9. Resilient and deformable flipping means in the form of flexible and resilient coil springs 104 are attached to the outer portions of the flipping arms 101 in such a way that they extend inwardly toward one another into the path of the tape end 105 held by the applicator lever 62 and are adapted to strike the tape end when the flipping arms are pivoted with respect to the applicator lever. The action of the flipping arms 101 and the resilient flipping means 104 with respect to the applicator lever, and the operation of these parts to position the tape end 105 across the film to be spliced will be described more fully hereinafter.

A wrapping and cutting anvil 111 is mounted across the central cavity 25 underneath the forward ends of the vertical supporting walls 26 in the slot 33 provided therein. The anvil 111 is in the form of a resilient plate attached to the top surface of a supporting block 112 which, in turn, is mounted on a cross bar 113 bolted to the block and to the underside of the horizontal walls 24 of the splicer base. The jig 32 is adapted to be translated with respect to the anvil 111 in such a way that the tape secured to the film 45 positioned in the jig is wrapped around the leading edge of the film and brought into contact with the underside of the film as the jig assumes its second, or rearward, position over the anvil 111, somewhat as shown in FIG. 4. In a sense the anvil 111 replaces the platform 48 at the front of the splicer and assumes the position in the central recess of the jig 32 which was vacated by the platform 48.

A wiper 114 in the form of a shaped spring plate,.

which may be of spring steel or a similar material, is

positioned above the anvil 111 in cooperative relation therewith. The front end of the wiper is bent down and then up again to form a transverse wiping surface 115 extending from one longitudinal edge of the wiper to the other in the form of ,a thin strip portion of the bottom surface of the wiper. A depending flange 116 is formed at the rear of the wiper 114 with a heel 117 adapted to rest slideably on a cantilever shelf 118 attached to and extending rearwardly of the cross bar 113. A pair of vertical positioning pins 119, extending from one of the vertical supporting walls 26 to the other, are provided above the wiper 114 to prevent the wiper from being displaced vertically away f-rom the anvil 111. As shown best in FIG. 2, when the jig is in its first position the wiper 114 rests with its transverse wiping surface 115 in contact with the front end of the anvil 111, its heel 117 on the shelf 118, and its top surface in contact with the two positioning pins 119.

A cutting knife 121 for trimming the tape along the trailing edge of the film in the second position of the jig 32 is mounted on a knife holder 122 depending from a pivoted cutting arm 123 fixed to a shaft 124 pivotally mounted between the vertical supporting walls 26. The cutting arm 123 is spring urged upwardly by a compression spring 125 fitting around a boss 126 depending from the cutting arm and resting on the shelf 118 in front of the heel 117 of the wiper. The wiper 114, itself, is cut out to provide an elongated opening 127 through which the compression spring 125 passes. The cutting arm 123 terminates in a roughened finger plate 128 for depressing the arm against the resistance of the compression spring 125 to perform the trimming operation. The knife 121 is adapted to move in a path which strikes the anvil 111 along a transverse cutting line just rearward of the trailing edges of the film ends in the second position of the jig 32.

The cutting arm 123 and the wiper 114 are operatively connected through a pair of cam plates 129 attached to the wiper 114 and a corresponding pair of horizontal follower pins 130 attached to the cutting arm 123. The cam plates are vertical legs of a U-shaped bracket welded or otherwise attached to the top surface of the wiper, as best illustrated in FIG. 8. Each of the cam plates 129 defines a corresponding inclined cam slot 129a which receives the fol ower pin 130 on one side of the cutting arm. The slots 129a are inclined in such a way that when the cutting arm 123 is depressed to lower the knife 121 the cam plates 129 and the wiper 114 attached thereto are caused to move forward out of the way of the knife. When the cutting arm 123 is released the compression spring 125 raises the arm and returns the wiper to its first position where the transverse wiping surface 115 contacts the anvil 11 1 at a point which is rearward of the trailing edge of the film ends in the second position of the jig 32. Thus, the wiper 114 has a first location wherein the wiping surface 115 is rearward of the trailing edge of the film ends and the wiper is located in the path of the knife 121, and a second location wherein the wiping surface 115 is between the edges of the film ends and the wiper is located outside the path of the knife 121 to allow the knife to strike the anvil 111.

In operation, two pieces of film 45 to be spliced are first trimmed by a conventional film cutter in order to obtain square end edges. Obvious-1y, if the ends of the film are already square, trimming may not 'be necessary.

After assuring that the film plate 32 is in its forward position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the operator presses down the flag lever 55 with the result that the flag 53 is raised above the platform, as shown in FIG. 1, and retained in this position until the tape applicator lever 62 is advanced. With the flag 53 elevated and the clamping pads 64 in their open position, i.e., that shown to the right of FIG. 1, the film ends 45 are placed on the supporting surface 44 between the front and rear rails 46 and 47 and moved toward each other until each end contacts the flag.

At this point, each of the clamping pads 64 is lowered into the position shown at the left of FIG. 2, where it is held in clamping relation with the film by the spring loaded detent 65. The jig 62 is held in its forward position by spring loaded ball detents 131 mounted in recesses, not shown, provided in the horizontal walls of the splicer, and mating recesses, also not shown, in the underside of the front rail 46 of the jig, itself. It is important that the jig be properly held in its first position to assure that the tape end will be applied in the correct position across the film in the manner described below.

To apply tape to the film ends 45, the control handle attached to the tape applicator lever 62 then is grasped and pulled toward the operator at the front of the splicer. This causes the tape applicator lever 62 to move from the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2 and in full in FIG. 4 to that shown in full in FIG. 2 where the tape end is applied across the film ends and pressed down by the operators finger 134 as shown. Prior to the forward motion of the applicator lever 62, the tape end 105, itself, is roughly in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 (even though the jig is not in the position shown in FIG. 4). At this point, it will be seen that the flipping arms 101 are held away from the tape end 105 by a rear stop 135 at the front end of the shelf 118 which contacts one of.

the flipping arms.

The operation of the flipping arms 101 and the resilient flipping springs 104 carried thereby will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 9 and 10. As the applicator lever 62 begins its upward travel, the adhesive side of the tape end 105 is brought into contact with the inwardly extending resilient flipping springs 104, as shown in FIG. 9, and the flipping arms 101 begin to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction, as compared with the -clockwise pivotal motion of the applicator lever 62, itself. Thus, the resilient flipping springs 104 begin to bend the tape end 105 backwards upon itself, as shown in FIG. 9. As the applicator lever 62 progresses upwardly one of the flipping arms 10]. comes into contact with a front stop in the form of a shoulder 136 presented by one of the horizontal wall portions 24 of the splicer, and is thereby caused to pivot rapidly counter-clockwise as the end of the applicator lever 62 moves past the shoulder 136. This rapid relative motion of the flipping arms 101 and the resilient springs 104 carried thereby, with respect to the applicator lever 62, first bends the tape back and then deflects the resilient springs 104 forwardly to the point where the tape end 105 can pass through the space between the springs. At this point, the tape end 105 flips, or swings, through the resilient springs 104 down into contact with the top surface of the film ends 45, roughly as shown in FIG. 10. Ideally, the end edges of the film ends 45 will lie approximately along the longitudinal center line of the tape, as shown. To accomplish this, the slot 52 in the jig table 49 and the fiag 53 positioned therein also are located approximately along the longitudinal center line of the tape as the tape normally is held by the applicator lever. While the adhesive side of the tape will adhere to the film as a result of the above described flipping action, it is preferable that the operator press the tape down into contact with the film as illustrated in FIG. 2. This also serves the purpose of giving the operator tactile control of initiation of the splicing step and allows him to assure that the tape is adhered to the film before the splicer is operated further. If the control handle 95 attached to the applicator lever is released, tension is automatically maintained on the tape adhered to the film 45 by a cross spring 138 which tends to pivot the lever 62 rearwardly. The cross spring 138 is connected at opposite ends to spaced pins 139 depending from the opposite horizontal walls 24 of the splicer base. The normal position of this spring 138 is to the rear of the depressed position of the applicator lever 62 and directly across the path of the lever. Thus, the spring 138 is distended by the lever 62 as the lever moves to its upright position, as shown in FIG. 2, and therefore tends to return the lever and assume its normal position when the lever is released. Normally, however, the applicator control handle 95 is not released, but instead is returned to its original position by hand. During this motion, the tape end 105 remains adhered to the film 45 and the applicator lever 62 and the leaf spring 97 thereof move rearwardly along the tape 88 to the position shown dotted in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 4, with respect to the tape. The tape, itself, then assumes the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2.

At this point, the jig 32 is disengaged from the detents 131 holding it in its first position and then moved on the slides 31 to its second position over the anvil 111. Translation of the jig 32 to its second position causes the tape to wrap around the leading edges of the film 45 and pass underneath the film, as described hereinbefore. The jig 32 is caused to move smoothly and in a definite path with respect to the anvil 111 by guide flanges 141 extending downwardly from the underside of the jig into longitudinal grooves 142 in the side walls 22 and parallel with the horizontal slides 31. The guide flanges 141 depend from the jig adjacent its front and rear edges to steady the jig with respect to the slides 31. The Wearing strips 34 extending longitudinally along the top surfaces of the slides 31 tend to provide lines of pressure which guide the jig 62 firmly in a fixed path. In the rear of their travel, or in the second position of the jig 32, the rear rail portions 47 of the jig contact a pair of set screws 143 appropriately located in the vertical shoulders 29 presented by the horizontal flanges 28 at the rear of the splicer. These set screws 143 act as adjustable stops for alignment of the jig with respect to the base. A pair of spring loaded detents 145 are recessed in the slide 31 for cooperation with corresponding depressions or recesses, not shown, in the underside of the front rail 46 of the jig 32 for holding the jig in position over the anvil 111.

As the jig 32 is translated toward its second position on the slide by means of the guide flanges 141 running in the longitudinal grooves 142 and the wearing strips 34 on the slides 31, the longitudinal leading edges of the tape ends to be spliced enter the space between the leading end of the wiper 114 and the anvil 111 and then pass underneath the transverse wiping surface 115 of the wiper which presses downwardly on the tape and wipes the tape into close contact with the film ends. As the film moves underneath this wiping surface 115 the tape is pressed onto the film from the leading edges of the film to the trailing edges of the film in wiping action which removes the air from between the tape and the film and assures close contact between the tape and the film in the splice. In this embodiment of the invention, when the jig 32 has reached its second position the transverse wiping surface 115 of the wiper contacts the anvil 111 just beyond the trailing edges of the film and the tape supply is attached to the tape length passing underneath the film, as shown in FIG. 4. At this point, the front end of the wiper 114 is located in the path of the cutting knife 121. The cutting arm 123 then is lowered by pressing downwardly on the finger plate 128 against the resistance of the compression spring 125 to pivot the arm and move the knife downwardly in its path. The downward motion of the arm 123 causes the follower pins 130 attached to the arm to exert force upon the cam plates 129 in a rearward direction and thereby slide the wiper 114 attached to the cam plates rearwardly out of the path of the knife, from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 4. At this time, the wiper 114 exerts additional wiping force upon the trailing edge of the splice and holds the splice as the tape is being trimmed by the cutting knife. When the cutting arm 123 is released, the compression spring 125 returns the arm to its elevated position and through the cam plates 129 also returns the wiper 114 to the position shown in FIG. 2. During this return stroke of the wiper, the trailing edge of the splice again is wiped. The finished splice is removed from the splicer by first returning the jig 32 to the position shown in FIG. 2 and then pulling the detents 64 forward by hand to release the clamping pads 64 and free the spliced film for removal from the jig.

Having now described the invention in specific detail and exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that innumerable variations, applications, modifications and extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

Wherefore I claim:

1. A film splicer comprising a jig for holding two ends of film to be spliced, means for applying a length of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to the film ends transversely thereof and with the adhesive side of the tape facing the film, a wrapping and cutting anvil, said jig having a first position with respect to said anvil wherein the film ends are placed in the jig in splicing relation with one another, means for translating said jig and said anvil with respect to one another to cause said tape length to wrap around the longitudinal leading edge of the film ends and pass under said ends to form a sandwich therewith and said jig to assume a second position with respect to said anvil with the trailing edges of said film ends over said anvil, a wiper cooperatively associated wit-h said anvil and having a transverse wiping surface urged into contact with said anvil to Wipe the tape into close contact with said film ends and form a splice as the jig is translated with respect to said anvil to its second position, a cutting knife mounted for motion toward and away from said anvil in a path striking the anvil along a transverse cutting line just rearward of the trailing edges of said film ends in the second position of said jig for trimming the tape along said cutting line, said wiper in the second position of said jig having a first location wherein said wiping surface is rearward of the trailing edge of the film ends and said wiper is located in the path of said knife and a second location wherein said wiping surface is between the edges of the film ends and said wiper is located outside the path of said knife, and means associated with said knife and said wiper for moving said wiper out of the path of said knife as the knife is moved toward the anvil.

2. A film splicer according to claim 1, wherein said wiper normally is urged to its first location and said knife normally is urged away from said anvil.

3. A film splicer according to claim 2, wherein the means associated with said knife for moving the wiper includes cam means.

4. A film splicer according to claim 3, wherein the knife and the wiper are operatively connected so that elevation of the knife returns the wiper to its first location.

5. A film splicer according to claim 4, wherein said knife is mounted on a pivoted arm, and which further comprises a cam plate defining a cam slot and being attached to one of said arm and said wiper, and a cam follower in said slot, said follower being attached to the other of said arm and said wiper.

6. A film splicer according to claim 5, wherein said arm is spring urged upwardly to elevate said knife and move said wiper to its first location.

7. A film splicer comprising a jig for holding two ends of film to be spliced, means for applying a length of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to the film ends transversely thereof and with the adhesive side of the tape facing the film, a wrapping and cutting anvil, said jig having a first position with respect to said anvil wherein the film ends are placed in the jig in splicing relation with one another, means for translating said jig and said 'anvil with respect to one another to cause said tape length to wrap around the longitudinal leading edge of the film ends and pass under said ends to form a sandwich therewith -and said jig to assume a second position with respect to said anvil with the trailing edges of said film ends over 9 10 said anvil, a wiper cooperatively associated with said said film ends in the second position of said jig for trimanvil and having a transverse wiping surface normally ming the tape along said cutting line.

urged towards said anvil and into contact with the film ends positioned over said anvil to wipe the tape into close References Clted by the Exammer contact with said film ends and form a splice as the jig is 5 UNITED STATES TE S translated with respect to said anvil to its second position, 3,155,563 11/ 1964 Iorgensen 156-505 a cutting knife mounted for motion toward and away 346L466 1/1965 Laper'sonne 156 505 from said anvil in a path striking the anvil along a trans- EA L M BERGERT, Primary Emmi-"en verse cutting line just rearward of the trailing edges of 10 DOUGLAS J. DRUMMOND Examiner. 

1. A FILM SPLICER COMPRISING A JIG FOR HOLDING TWO ENDS OF FILM TO BE SPLICED, EANS FOR APPLYING A LENGTH OF PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE TO THE FILM ENDS TRANSVERSELY THEREOF AND WITH THE ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE TAPE FACING THE FILM, A WRAPPING AND CUTTING ANVIL, SAID JIG HAVING A FIRST PJOSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID ANVIL WHEREIN THE FILM ENDS ARE PLACED IN THE JIG IN SPLICING RELATION WITH ONE ANOTHER, MEANS FOR TRANSLATING SAID JIG AND SAID ANVIL WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER TO CAUSE SAID TAPE LENGTH TO WRAP AROUND THE LONGITUDINAL LEADING EDGE OF THE FILM ENDS AND PASS UNDER SAID ENDS TO FORM A SANDWICH THEREWITH AND SAID JIG TO ASSUME A SECOND POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID ANVIL WITH THE TRAILING EDGES OF SAID FILM ENDS OVER SAID ANVIL, A WIPER COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ANVIL AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE WIPING SURFACE URGED INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ANVIL TO WIPE THE TAPE INTO CLOSE CONTACT WITH SAID FILM ENDS AND FORM A SPLICE AS THE JIG IS TRANSLATED WITH RESPECT TO SAID ANVIL TO ITS SECOND POSITION, A CUTTING KNIFE MOUNTED FOR MOTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ANVIL IN A PATH STRIKING THE ANVIL ALONG A TRANSVERSE CUTTING LINE JUST REARWARD OF THE TRAILING EDGES OF SAID FILM ENDS IN THE SECOND POSITION OF SAID JIG FOR 